Hartselle welcomes Sumatanga runners

Runners John Nevels, left, and Jay McNeil take break in Hartselle after two days of a four-day Run to Sumatanga fundraiser. | Clif Knight

The City of Hartselle proved to be an oasis for distance runner John Nevels of Huntsville and his support party on Wednesday, as they completed the second leg of a 174-mile run to raise money for Camp Sumatanga, a youth camp affiliated with the North Alabama United Methodist Church.

The run began Tuesday morning at the Florence United Methodist Church with six runners and will end on Friday around noon at Camp Sumatanga near Oneonta. Tuesday’s 32.6-mile run ended in Moulton at the First United Methodist Church where Nevels and his party enjoyed dinner and overnight lodging compliments of the church congregation.

Wednesday’s run, which went through Decatur, covered 36.2 miles and ended at The Depot in Hartselle at approximately 3 p.m. In addition to Nevels, Jay McNeil, a member of Trinity United Methodist church, ran the entire leg for a personal high distance record.

Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce President Susan Hines welcomed the group and invited its members to use of the meeting room. She also provided frozen treats.

Nevels resumed the run from Hartselle at 5:15 a.m. on Thursday and planned another overnight stop in Hanceville before completing it the next day at the youth camp.

Wannell Scott, youth pastor at Florence UMC, said the runners and their support workers will be welcomed by Sumatanga’s staff, campers and former campers as part of a homecoming celebration.

“We’re raising money to make needed repairs at the Sumatange facility,” said Scott. “Many of us have witnessed lives being saved and changed at Sumatanga and we want to make sure it’s there for the next generation of youth.

Nevels, youth director at Home Street UMC in Huntsville, said the project is attracting a lot of attention from the public and is getting support from a number of church and business sponsors. In Decatur alone, support came from Pepsi, River City Runners and Fleet Feet Sports. Private donations may be made online at www.runninghometossumatanga.com.

Nevels is a highly accomplished distance runner who plans to run every step of the Running to Sumatanga Run. Following the devastating tornadoes in Alabama in April 2011, he ran from Gulf Shores to the Tennessee line over 10 days, raising $22,000 for storm victims.

Members of the Nevels support crew are Scott, Tony Bolan, Monica Firth, Leslie Kirk and Matt Adday.